Emergency response service

An emergency response service (ERS) is a shore-based, around-the-clock service from a classification society that gives a damaged ship rapid assessment of residual stability and longitudinal strength. The ship’s hull form, loading guidance, and strength data are pre-loaded into the society’s software, so on a casualty the response team computes intact and damage stability, trim, heel, and hull girder strength from the reported flooding or damage. SOLAS and MARPOL damage stability rules and the requirement for prompt access to shore-based stability support drive uptake, and many companies hold an ERS agreement to meet it. Response is typically provided within a few hours of activation.